Big Red Machine: The Indie Rock Supergroup

Big Red Machine is an American indie rock and folk project formed by musicians Aaron Dessner and Justin Vernon. The collaborative venture, known for its atmospheric sound and extensive roster of guest artists, represents a significant creative nexus in modern alternative music.

Early Career

The project's origins trace back to a 2008 song titled "Big Red Machine," co-written by Dessner of The National and Vernon of Bon Iver for a charity compilation. This initial collaboration planted the seed for a deeper partnership, though the formal Big Red Machine project would not materialize for another decade. The duo's shared musical language, built on textured instrumentation and emotive songwriting, provided the foundation for their future work.

Breakthrough

Big Red Machine officially launched in 2018 with the release of their self-titled debut album on the Jagjaguwar and 37d03d labels. The album featured a notable cast of contributors, including Phoebe Bridgers, Lisa Hannigan, and Richard Reed Parry, establishing the project's core identity as a collaborative and exploratory endeavor. This release was followed by extensive touring, solidifying their presence within the indie music landscape.

Key tracks

Big Red Machine - The original 2008 track that gave the supergroup its name and established the foundational creative link between Dessner and Vernon.

Lyla - A key track from their debut album that showcases the project's expansive, layered sound and melancholic melodic style.

Renegade - Featuring Taylor Swift, this track from the 2021 album "How Long Do You Think It's Gonna Last?" brought the project to a wider mainstream audience.

The Ghost of Cincinnati - A solo Aaron Dessner performance on the second album that highlights the folk-oriented, singer-songwriter element of the group's output.

Hutch - An emotive track featuring Sharon Van Etten and Lisa Hannigan, exemplifying the project's strength in vocal and harmonic collaboration.

The project's second album, 2021's "How Long Do You Think It's Gonna Last?", further expanded their collaborative scope. Featuring a wider array of artists like Anaïs Mitchell, Fleet Foxes, and Ben Howard, the album refined their blend of indie rock and folk, achieving critical acclaim and charting on the US Billboard 200.

Listeners who appreciate the collaborative and textured sound of Big Red Machine may also enjoy the introspective rock of The National, where Aaron Dessner's compositional style is a central element. The experimental folk and vocal processing of Bon Iver, Justin Vernon's primary project, is a clear foundational influence. The lyrical intimacy and atmospheric arrangements of Phoebe Bridgers, a frequent collaborator, also share common ground with the supergroup's output.

As a defining collaborative force in contemporary indie rock, Big Red Machine's music continues to explore the intersections of melody, mood, and collective creativity. Their work remains a compelling destination for fans seeking sophisticated and emotionally resonant alternative music.